Nevada C-4 Painting and Decorating Contractor Examination

Under NAC 624.220, which work may a Nevada classification C-4 painting and decorating licensee perform?

• AApply paint, varnish, shellac, stain, protective coatings and wax; attach papers, fabrics…
• BInstall structural steel framing and load-bearing wood studs
• CInstall potable-water piping and plumbing fixtures
• DPlace and finish structural concrete slabs

What is the vehicle (thinner/carrier) in conventional interior latex architectural paint?

• AMineral spirits
• BWater
• CDenatured alcohol
• DAcetone

Which solvent is used to thin and clean up conventional alkyd (oil-based) enamel?

• AMineral spirits (paint thinner)
• BWater
• CDenatured alcohol
• DWhite vinegar

Which solvent dissolves and thins traditional shellac primer or varnish?

• AMineral spirits
• BWater
• CDenatured alcohol
• DXylene only

What is the primary purpose of a penetrating wood stain compared with an opaque paint?

• ATo color the wood while leaving the grain visible
• BTo build a thick, hiding film that conceals all grain
• CTo fireproof the lumber to Type X performance
• DTo replace the need for a clear topcoat on floors

Which primer is the usual first coat on new, unpainted gypsum wallboard before a latex finish?

• AZinc-rich epoxy primer
• BPolyvinyl acetate (PVA) drywall primer-sealer
• CHot-applied coal-tar enamel
• DClear penetrating deck oil

Why should conventional alkyd enamel not be applied directly to new galvanized steel?

• AAlkyd dries too fast on zinc and will always chalk in one week
• BGalvanized steel cannot accept any organic coating
• CThe alkaline zinc surface saponifies the oil/alkyd binder and the film can peel
• DAlkyd is required by code on all galvanized ductwork

What happens if a two-component epoxy is applied after its pot life has expired?

• AThe mixed coating begins to gel and will not flow, wet, or cure as specified
• BThe epoxy becomes water-thin and covers twice the labeled area
• CThe hardener evaporates and the film remains permanently thermoplastic
• DPot life only affects color; film performance is unchanged

What do percent solids by volume tell the painter about a coating?

• AThe weight of pigment packed in a gallon can
• BThe fraction of the wet film that remains as dry film after solvents evaporate
• CThe flash point of the reducer in degrees Fahrenheit
• DThe number of coats required by the Nevada energy code

One gallon of a 100 percent solids coating applied at 1 mil dry-film thickness theoretically covers about how many square feet?

• A350 square feet
• B400 square feet
• C1,604 square feet
• D2,000 square feet

What does the VOC content on a paint label report?

• AThe mass of organic solvents that can evaporate into the air, usually in grams per liter
• BThe dry-film hardness after 30 days
• CThe percentage of titanium dioxide in the pigment
• DThe number of years the film is warranted against chalking

Which clear finish is typically specified where wood floors or heavy-use trim need high abrasion resistance?

• AUncatalyzed PVA drywall sealer used as the wear coat
• BRaw linseed oil with no topcoat
• CWater only, burnished into the grain
• DOil-modified or moisture-cure polyurethane

A room has 1,600 square feet of wall to paint. The specified latex covers 400 square feet per gallon per coat. How many gallons are required for two coats, ignoring waste?

• A4 gallons
• B8 gallons
• C12 gallons
• D16 gallons

A product data sheet allows thinning up to 10 percent by volume for airless spray. How much thinner is the maximum for 5 gallons of unthinned paint?

• A0.25 gallon (1 quart)
• B1.0 gallon
• C0.5 gallon (2 quarts)
• D1.5 gallons

A coating is specified at 4 mils dry-film thickness and is 50 percent solids by volume. No thinner is added. What wet-film thickness should be applied?

• A2 mils
• B4 mils
• C8 mils
• D16 mils

What is the first surface-preparation step on a previously painted interior wall?

• AExamine the surface and remove dust, grease, mildew, and unsound paint
• BApply the finish coat immediately so the old film stays sealed
• CSoak the wall with mineral spirits and leave it wet while painting
• DSandblast every interior gypsum wall to white metal

Why is a TSP or phosphate-free substitute wash used on kitchen and bath walls before repainting?

• ATo etch the gypsum core so Type X fire resistance increases
• BTo remove grease and soil that would prevent the new film from adhering
• CTo raise the wood moisture content above 20 percent
• DTo convert latex paint into an alkyd

Why must a glossy enamel be deglossed before a new coat is applied?

• AA slick, glossy film does not give the new coat mechanical tooth
• BGloss enamel is illegal to recoat in Nevada
• CDeglossing raises VOC so the film dries faster
• DOnly oil paints can be recoated; latex never needs deglossing

What does SSPC-SP 1 solvent cleaning remove from steel?

• AAll mill scale and rust to white metal
• BOnly tightly adherent old epoxy
• CVisible oil, grease, dirt, and other soluble contaminants
• DThe zinc coating from galvanized sheet

Which method is SSPC-SP 2 hand-tool cleaning?

• ACommercial abrasive blast to a 33 percent stain limit
• BUltra-high-pressure waterjetting at 30,000 psi
• CPickling the steel in hot acid
• DScraping, sanding, and wire-brushing with non-powered hand tools

What is SSPC-SP 3 power-tool cleaning intended to remove?

• AEvery trace of mill scale to white metal
• BLoose mill scale, rust, and loose paint — not tightly adherent material
• COnly soluble salts, leaving rust scale in place
• DThe entire zinc layer from galvanized deck

Commercial blast cleaning SSPC-SP 6 / NACE No. 3 allows staining on no more than what portion of each unit area?

• A5 percent
• B10 percent
• C33 percent
• D75 percent

Near-white metal blast SSPC-SP 10 / NACE No. 2 limits random staining to no more than what portion of each unit area?

• A1 percent
• B5 percent
• C33 percent
• D50 percent

What does white-metal blast SSPC-SP 5 / NACE No. 1 require when the surface is viewed without magnification?

• AA surface free of all visible oil, grease, dirt, rust, mill scale, and coatings (no stain…
• BRemoval of loose rust only, with mill scale left in place
• CA commercial blast with up to 33 percent stain
• DSolvent wiping with no abrasive

A common steel-coating rule is that the substrate must be at least how far above the dew point before painting?

• A1°F
• B2°F
• C3°F
• D5°F

Exterior wood should generally be below about what moisture content before it is painted?

• A25 percent
• B15 percent
• C30 percent
• D8 percent only, measured at the pith

Unless the coating manufacturer allows a shorter wait, how long should new concrete typically cure before it is painted?

• A24 hours
• B7 days
• C28 days
• D1 year

What is the white crystalline powder that appears on masonry and must be removed before painting?

• AEfflorescence (soluble salts brought to the surface by water)
• BChalking of a sound acrylic topcoat that should be left in place
• CType X gypsum dust from sanding joints
• DZinc oxide mill oil from galvanized flashing

Which primer is the traditional stain blocker for resinous knots in pine trim?

• AClear water only
• BUnpigmented PVA drywall sealer used as the only coat
• CZinc-rich inorganic primer
• DPigmented shellac

Why must loose rust scale be removed from steel before priming?

• ARust is required as a profile and should be left thick
• BPaint cannot bond to unsound rust, so the film and scale come off together
• CPrimers dissolve heavy scale, so removal is optional
• DLoose rust increases the specified dry-film thickness

Under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, housing built before which year is treated as lead-based-paint housing unless a proper test shows otherwise?

• A1950
• B1978
• C1990
• D2001

What is the recommended first preparation step on new galvanized metal before priming?

• ASolvent-clean (SSPC-SP 1) to remove mill oils and fabricating compounds
• BApply alkyd house paint immediately over the mill oil
• CBurn the zinc off with an open-flame torch
• DWaterblast to white metal, then leave the steel bare overnight

Steel is 52°F and the dew point is 49°F. A coating requires the surface to be at least 5°F above the dew point. May the painter apply it?

• AYes, because the steel is above freezing
• BYes, because 52°F is higher than 49°F
• CNo — the surface is only 3°F above the dew point
• DYes, if a fan is running, regardless of the numbers

When is brush-off blast SSPC-SP 7 / NACE No. 4 the specified steel preparation?

• AWhen every stain must be removed to white metal
• BWhen only loose mill scale, rust, and coatings must be removed and tightly adherent mater…
• CWhen oil and grease are the only contaminants and no abrasive is allowed
• DWhen concrete, not steel, is being prepared

How should a painter check an old exterior latex for excessive chalking before recoating?

• ARub the surface with a dark cloth; heavy powder means wash thoroughly and prime if chalk…
• BIgnore chalk because it is a recommended bonding layer
• CSeal the chalk in place with raw linseed oil only
• DMeasure chalk with a wet-film gauge

A concrete-block wall reads high moisture on a meter and shows damp patches. What is the correct action before coating?

• AApply two extra alkyd coats to seal the water in
• BHeat the wall with a torch until the paint will flash-dry
• CAdd 25 percent water to the latex so it can be applied wet-on-wet over the damp block
• DDelay coating, find and stop the water source, and wait until the masonry is dry enough f…

A soft, soapy film develops where alkyd enamel was applied over fresh concrete. What failed?

• ASaponification of the oil/alkyd binder by concrete alkali
• BChalking from ultraviolet light in the first afternoon
• CUndersize roller nap on a smooth slab
• DUsing too little colorant in the alkyd base

Why must a painter keep a wet edge when rolling a large wall?

• ATo force the first coat to chalk before the second coat
• BTo avoid lap marks where a dried film meets a new pass
• CTo increase the labeled VOC of the product
• DTo make a single coat build to 20 mils DFT

What is cutting in?

• ABrushing a neat band along edges, corners, and trim before rolling the field
• BSaw-cutting control joints in a concrete slab after painting
• CThinning the paint 50 percent so it runs into corners
• DRemoving metal studs that interfere with the roller

Why do most architectural wall paints specify two finish coats over a properly primed surface?

• ANevada law requires exactly two coats on every commercial job
• BThe second coat is only for advertising and may be skipped if the first looks wet
• COne coat rarely hides uniformly or builds the intended dry-film thickness
• DTwo coats convert latex into an epoxy

After spraying interior walls, why do painters often backroll the wet film?

• ATo remove the coating so a second spray pass is not needed
• BTo raise the steel dew point
• CTo work paint into the texture, knock down spray stipple, and even the film
• DTo convert the spray pattern into a white-metal blast profile

Recoating an alkyd enamel before it has dried enough commonly causes which defect?

• AIncreased fire rating of the gypsum
• BA perfectly uniform Level 5 finish
• CLower VOC than the label states
• DWrinkling or lifting of the first coat

Applying interior latex below the manufacturer's minimum temperature (often 50°F) most often causes which problem?

• AFaster coalescence and a harder film
• BPoor film formation, poor adhesion, and a weak, cracked, or powdery film
• CAutomatic conversion to an alkyd
• DA guaranteed increase in spreading rate to 800 sq ft/gal

What is a standard high-quality method for finishing a wood door?

• ABrush or spray and lay off in the direction of the grain, keeping a wet edge on each rail…
• BRoll the door with a 1-1/4-inch nap in random circles and leave the stipple
• CApply one heavy coat on the hinge edge only
• DSpray from more than 4 feet away so the film is dry when it lands